West Chicago dad pleads guilty to aggravated assault

A West Chicago man pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated assault related to his Jan. 9 arrest for recklessly taking two juveniles off a school bus.

Jimmy Palmer, 53, of Locust Avenue, pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault charge in exchange for prosecutors dropping charges of criminal trespass to a motor vehicle, reckless driving, endangering the health or life of a child, failure to give aide or information at an accident and driving too fast for conditions.

Police said officials from a school bus company called the DuPage sheriff's office at 4 p.m. that day to report Palmer had forced his way into the bus and removed two juveniles. Authorities said the bus driver was dropping off students on their scheduled route when Palmer cut off the bus, triggering a crash.

Following the accident, prosecutors said, Palmer forced his way into the bus and removed his teenage son and his friend. No children were harmed.

Palmer was sentenced to one year of probation and five days in the Sheriff's Work Alternative Program and also ordered to obtain a psychiatric evaluation and to complete counseling.